Battle of the X-Planes

This documentary, filmed over four years, is sure to scintillate the senses as one grossly gets involved into the thrilling and suspenseful adventures of NOVA, who goes behind the doors of the world’s two largest aerospace companies to record classified meetings, climbs into cockpits to fly the most revolutionary planes, and examines the high-stakes battle waged between Boeing and Lockheed Martin all in an attempt to build The Joint Strike Fighter, the most efficient and versatile fighter ever created. NOVA enters Boeing’s Phantom Works and Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works, and travels to the flight test centers at Edwards Air Force Base and Patuxnet Naval Air Station to document key moments of the competition.

The two aerospace giants fight for a contract that will take the aviation industry by storm and help protect America, and the stakes were all the more high as winning the contract could provide the winner total domination of the U.S. defense fighter industry.

For winning, the aircraft had to meet three criteria – that the winning plane be stealthy, affordable, and adaptable to the widely varying needs of the Air Force, Navy, as well as the Marines. Battle of the X-Planes reveals the groundbreaking designs, heartbreaking setbacks, adrenaline-fueled test flights, and one final decision of the winner of the most lucrative contract in military history- the Joint Strike Fighter, the anticipation of which increases the heart-rate!

Within the high-tech, high-risk competition to create the latest U.S. combat aircraft. NOVA goes behind the doors of the two world’s largest aerospace companies to record classified meetings, climbs the flight deck of the most revolutionary planes, and examines the high-stakes battle waged between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to build the most capable combat and versatile ever created – the Joint Strike Fighter.

You are in the front line as the two aerospace giants fight for a contract that will go down in history of aviation and help protect the United States and could provide the winner total domination of the industry’s combat U.S. defense. Marking the first time filmmakers have been allowed inside a major weapons competition, NOVA enters Boeing Phantom Works legendary Lockheed Skunk Works, and travels to the flight test centers at Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxnet document the key moments of the competition.

Join senior military, aviation engineers and test pilots in a race to create a single aircraft that meets three criteria – that the winning plane be stealthy, affordable and adaptable to different needs of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Filmed over four years, the battle of the X-Planes reveals the breakthrough designs, heartbreaking setbacks, adrenaline-fueled test flights, and a final nail-biting decision – the winner of the most lucrative contract in military history, the Joint Strike Fighter.